NASA Astronauts Bring Wonder of International Space Station to San Diego

Ever wonder what it's like to be an astronaut and to live and work in space? Find out directly from NASA astronauts who will be in the San Diego area July 13 – 20 as the agency shares the accomplishments, promise and opportunities for research aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy, Mike Hopkins, and Rex Walheim will participate in activities during the week. All include media availabilities.

In addition, Destination Station, a multimedia exhibit showcasing what it's like to live aboard the International Space Station, is open to the public from July 12 to Sept. 2 at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.

On July 13, as visitors celebrate the history, diverse cultures, and civic engagement of the people of San Diegoat Fiesta del Sol, they also will have the opportunity to experience one of only eight moon rocks that visitors can touch. Located on Historic Logan Avenue between Cesar Chavez Parkway and South 26th Street, NASA's Driven to Explore mobile exhibit will be at Fiesta del Sol from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A Destination Station exhibit kickoff and media preview event will take place at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 13. Cassidy will speak about the exhibit and his experience aboard the space station during his recent mission. Afterward there will be a screening of the museum's new "Hidden Universe" IMAX film.

Cassidy, NASA scientist Liz Warren Ph.D., and local science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM experts will participate in a panel discussion for Girls, Inc. San Diego participants from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.July 14 at the Sony San Diego Campus. Girls, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire girls who are typically underrepresented in the community to be strong, smart and bold.

Naval Base San Diego will host an event in conjunction with NASA on July 14. Cassidy will engage with Navy personnel and their families at Murphy Canyon Chapel.

During Cassidy's 10 years as a Navy SEAL he spent time as a platoon commander at Naval Base Coronado. Families will have a chance to go through the Driven to Explore mobile exhibit and participate in activities with Cassidy from 2 to 8 p.m.

San Diego Children's Discovery Museum visitors will have the opportunity to view a Story Time From Space book reading featuring Hopkins on recorded video from the space station from 11 a.m. to noon on July 15. Story Time From Space is an initiative to send space-themed children's books to the International Space Station for astronauts to read and send recordings back to Earth.

A research event at the University of California, San Diego on July 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature presentations by Cassidy, Camille Alleyne of NASA's Space Station Program Science Office, and National Space Biomedical Research Institute researchers. The Driven to Explore mobile exhibit will be on campus outside of the Price Center Ballroom West from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

On July 16, Hopkins will visit Rady Children's Hospital to do space-themed crafts with patients from 9:30 to 11 a.m. From noon to 2 p.m., Hopkins, Alleyne and representatives from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space will speak with the hospital's doctors and researchers about current research aboard the space station and the process for getting experiments aboard the station.

International Space Station Day will give visitors the chance to view NASA's latest multimedia content with the Destination Station exhibit inside and the Driven to Explore mobile exhibit outside the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Both exhibits will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 16.

In conjunction with the NFL PLAY 60 campaign, NASA will be hosting an opportunity to "Train Like an Astronaut" with the San Diego Chargers and Hopkins, who featured his daily workouts and the importance of exercise aboard the space station during his recent mission. This program uses the excitement of space exploration and astronaut training to challenge, inspire, and educate kids to set physical fitness goals and to practice proper nutrition. The activities are modeled after real-life training astronauts do to prepare for exploring space. The event will take place at Olympic Training Field from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on July 16.

Walheim will be participating in the City of San Diego's Free Summer Lunch program at the City Heights Recreation Center's Summer Lunch BBQ on July 18 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The program offers free lunch to anyone age 18 or younger during the summer months to assist families who rely on school food programs to get daily meals. Walheim will do a question-and-answer session with the children and lead them in Train Like an Astronaut activities. The Driven to Explore mobile exhibit will be on site for visitors to walk through.

Walheim will throw the first pitch when the San Diego Padres play the New York Mets at Petco Park at 7:10 p.m.July 18. The Driven to Explore mobile exhibit will be at the Park at the Park for game attendees to visit from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Driven to Explore Mobile exhibit will be set up at the San Diego Pride Festival on July 19 from noon to 10 p.m. and July 20 from noon to 8 p.m.

San Diego Pride's mission is to foster pride in and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, locally, nationally and globally. San Diego Pride will be celebrating its 40th anniversary.